wilson



(No Model.)

J. 1?. WILSON.

BELT TIGHTENER.

Patented 1m. 6,1881.

WITNESSES INVENTOR B M M c ATTORNEYS. v

N. FETERs Phomumu n mr. wnhin mn. n c.

s UNiT TATES PATENT rerun.

JOHN F. VILSON, OF CAMDEN, NEW YORK.

BELT-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,617, dated December 6, 1881.

Application filed July 28, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. WILSON, of Camden, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Belt-Tightener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device for tightening belts, especially elevator-bucket belts, and giving them the required tension.

The invention consists-of two frames, which have screws mounted in their ends for drawing these frames together or separating them, on which frames serrated or ribbed segmental interchangeable belt-clamping blocks, with handles for operating them, are pivoted, which pivots can be withdrawn to remove the clamping-blocks from the frame.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved belt-tightener. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same on the line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the same on the line y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the elevator-shaft, through which the belt B passes. The plates or frames 0 (l are provided with end plates or flanges, D D on the front side, and with transverse projecting strips E E on the rear side, these strips E E to rest against the side of the shaft-casing. The plates or frames U G are provided on the front with raised parts F E, which are roughened, toothed, or fluted. The upper frame, 0, is provided at each end, top, and bottom with lugs G, havingsmooth apertures, and the lower frame, 0 is provided with the nuts H, pivoted in lugs or projections J J at the ends of the frame or plate 0 A screw, K, passes through the lugs G G and through the nuts H at each side of the apparatus, and this screw is provided at its upper end with a hand-wheel, L, by means of which it can be turned and the frames 0 O drawn together or separated.

Plates or blocks M M with a serrated, toothed, or ribbed curved surface, are provided with a handle-frame, N, and are eccentrically pivoted to the end plates or flanges, D D by means of the pintles O O, which pass through the transverse bars P P of the frame N, and aresurrounded by spiral springs Q, which press (No model.)

these pintles into the apertures in the flanges D D The pintles O O are provided with buttons or disks It or equivalent at their inner ends, and the plates or blocks M M are provided with a stud or projection, R, on their inner surface, against which projection the buttons R strike when the pintles are drawn inward too far. A slotted quadrant, strip, or plate, S, is lotisely mounted on each pintle O, and is held on one of the transverse bars P of the frame N by means of a screw, T, and a milled nut, V.

The teeth or ribs of the upper frame, 0, and of the corresponding plate or block, M, are to be inclined downward, and the teeth or ribs of the lower frame and block or plate are to be inclined upward.

The end plate or flange, D or D at one end of the frames 0 or C is made removable, and for this purpose has apertured lugs W W,which are passed through apertures in the plate or frame 0 or G upon which a tapering pin, Y, is passed through the apertures of these lugs to hold this end plate on the frame-plate O or 0 The belttightener is used in the following manner: The two frames 0 O are placed against the casing of the elevator-shaft, as shown, and the ends of the belt B are passed in between the raised and roughened parts F F of these plates and the corresponding curved and roughened plates or blocks M M the handle-frames of which are then turned, as indicated by the arrows, whereby the belt ends will be firmly clamped in between the frames 0 O and the clamping-plates M M. The screws K are then turned so as to draw the frames 0 0 together, whereby the tension of the belt is increased. The ends of the belt are then united, and the belt-tightener must be removed. To accomplish this the buttons R R are pressed toward each other, whereby the ends of the pintles 0 are withdrawn from the apertures or recessesin the end plates, thus permitting the clamping blocks or plates to be removed from the bed-plates. The pins Y are then withdrawn, the corresponding end plates removed,and the bed-plates withdrawn from under the belt.'

Instead of passing the ends of the belt in between the curved clamp-plates and the bedplates, the bed-plates may be first passed under the belt, and the clamp-plates may then be passed in between the end plates or flanges of the bed-plates.

The nuts H are pivoted, so that there will not be any undue twisting strains on the lower bed-plate or frame, G and to avoid cramping of the screws.

The slotted plates S are so adjusted that their ends will rest against the belt when the same is clamped tight enough, and thus prevent injury to the ends of the belt by an undue pressure; and, besides, ifthe clamps are turned in the direction of the arrows too far, the teeth will not catch on the belt.

One screw K can be advanced faster than the other, for the purpose of bringing the ends of the belt into line.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A belt-tightener made substantially as herein shown and described, and consisting of two bed-plates united by screws and provided with removable and interchangeable beltelamping devices, as set forth.

2. In a belt-tightener, the combination, with the bed-plates 0 C of the screws K, the removable and interchangeable belt-clamping devices M 1W, and the gages S, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a belt-tightener, the combination, with the bed-plate O, provided with smooth apertured lugs G G,and thebed-plate C provided with the pivoted nuts H, the screws K, and the belt-clamping devices M M substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4:- In a belt-tightener, the combination, with the bed-plate 0, provided with end plates,D, of the clamping-plate M, the handle-frame N, the pintles O, and the springs Q, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a belt-tightener, the combination, with the bed-plate 0, provided with end p1ates,D, of the clamping-plate M, provided with a stud, R, on its inner surface, of the handleframe N, the pintles O, the springs Q, and the buttons R, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a belt-tightener, the combination, with the bed-plate C, of the clamping-plate M, the handle-frame N, the slotted quadrant, plate, or strip S, the screw T, and the nut V, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. In abelt-tightener, the combination, with the bed-plate O, of the removable end plate, D, provided with apertured lugs W, and of the pin Y, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN F. \VILSON.

YVitnesses:

N. S. WAKEFiELD, J. A. LAMBIE. 

